Races Surprisingly Close?

9:39 AM, Jul 23, 2014

Political consultants doing polling in at least four state House races also threw in a question on the U.S. Senate race. They were surprised to see that challenger Joe Carr was within striking distance of incumbent U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in those areas. Alexander was at 50 percent or less, and Carr was in the high thirties. George Flinn, who is spending $1.8 million of his own money, was a distant third.

Should Alexander's opponents split the anti-incumbent vote and Alexander only wins with a plurality, or with less than 60 percent, it gives the Democrats hope for November. The Democratic primary features Gordon Ball and Terry Adams, both Knoxville lawyers.

Carr hasn't gotten a large infusion of out-of-state SuperPac cash to oppose Alexander and it isn't likely to happen since early voting has started. He was scheduled to have a rally featuring syndicated talk show host Laura Ingraham in Nashville on Tuesday. Ingraham was a supporter of David Brat, who upset House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and she says she is "all in for Joe Carr."